Darren,
I've been to Alaska numerous times, with most of my trips concentrating on
being in Denali.
The best time IMO is late August/early September for the color and wildlife
activity.
I usually fly to Fairbanks & take the Alaska Railroad to Denali - roughly a
half day to the park station. I learned early on that to maximize your time
in the park you either need to camp in the park (not at the entrance) or
stay at one of the accommodations at the end of the 90 mile road in the
park. If you don't stay in the park, you have to use their bus system to get
into the park every day. The 90 mile road is the only road in the park &
this is the way most people see the park. The trip to the end of the road
(Wonder Lake) & back, on a park bus will take all day with many stops along
the way.
Most of your photography will be from along the road, if you stay with the
bus. You can wander the road on your own & pick up another bus as they come
along.
At the end of the road, I highly recommend Camp Denali or The North Face
Lodge. Camp Denali is all inclusive as far as food and board (in nicely
rustic log cabins with marvelous food). They have numerous daily activities
or you can be on your own. They generally have special photography emphasis
sessions late August with the benefit being you can be with a group of other
photographers on one of the camps dedicated photo buses, with a pro
photographer & can wander up & down the park road. The last several times in
the park I've done their photographic emphasis sessions with Geo Lepp and
have gotten the best animal shots I've ever taken there. Camp Denali is not
cheap but I have found it is the best way to maximize my photographic stay
in the park.
If you choose to camp, there are several established campgrounds along the
road - you could gradually work your way deeper into the park via the bus
system.
The train ride from Denali to Anchorage is around 6 hours IIRC.
Other than a limited lottery system, there is no other way to traverse the
park in a motorized vehicle. I have run into several individuals that have
bicycled the park. The lottery system is very limited in scope - I believe
its for a weekend late in the season, and a limited number of individuals to
traverse the park road in their own vehicles. Very limited permits are
granted to pro photographers thru the season.
Anchorage & Fairbank were simply way points for me. I never spend much time
in either.
If you have the time, car trips to Seward & Homer are a good way to get the
flavor of the less rustic side of Alaska.
HTH
If you want to discuss this more at length - send me an off list email and
we can arrange a phone conversation.
Alaska is my most favorite place in the world!
Kenneth Waller
http://www.pentaxphotogallery.com/kennethwaller
----- Original Message -----
From: "Darren Addy" <[email protected]>
Subject: OT: Anyone been to Denali ?
I'm seriously considering a photo safari to Denali late next summer,
to hopefully catch the "autumn" colors there (and, if I'm lucky, some
Northern Lights from high latitudes). I'm wondering if any PDMLers
have made the trip and have any words of advice.
My thinking, if I can get away with returning a rental car to a
different city than I'm leaving from, is to fly into Fairbanks and
drive Denali from the north to the south over several days and then
leave from Anchorage.
I'm not sure of the length of the trip. Ideally, I'd like to leave the
Friday before Labor Day and come home the weekend after Labor Day. I'm
just beginning my research of how long it takes to drive, calculating
the cost ... hiking options, etc.
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